Articles from July 2011

Top 1: Pedro Alvarez hit an RBI single to right against Tommy Hanson

Top 3: Alvarez grounded out against Hanson

Top 5: Alvarez struck out swinging against Hanson

Top 8: Alvarez struck out swinging against Jonny Venters

Top 10: Alvarez called out on strikes against George Sherill

Top 13: Alvarez out on sacrifice bunt against Christian Martinez

Top 15: Alvarez struck out swinging against Martinez

Top 17: Alvarez flew out to center against Scott Proctor

Final Line: 1-for-7, RBI, 4 K, 7 LOB

Notes: First off, I can’t believe there was only one sombrero is a 19-inning game.  I’d still take a 1-for-7 golden sombrero performance over Martin Prado’s 0-for-9 night.

Total 2011 Sombreros: 77

Bottom 2: Jay Bruce struck out swinging against Jon Niese

Bottom 4: Bruce struck out swinging against Niese

Bottom 5: Bruce grounded out to first against Niese

Bottom 7: Bruce struck out swinging against Ryota Igarashi

Bottom 9: Bruce struck out swinging against Tim Byrdak

Final Line: 0-for-5, 4 K

Notes: Bruce’s golden sombrero against the Mets on Tuesday night was his second of the season.  On a night where the Reds pounded out 12 hits and six runs, Bruce was one of two starters not to record a hit.  After Bruce hit a walk-off home run off Byrdak to clinch the N.L. Central last season, the left-handed reliever definitely got his revenge, as he fanned Bruce to end the game.

Total 2011 Sombreros: 76

By now you are all probably aware of my history with the Indians’ recent call up Jason Kipnis.  A former rival shortstop in high school, Kipnis is the first player who I extensively played with/against to receive the “top-prospect” tag and debut in the Major Leagues.

After two hitless games to begin his career, Kipnis stepped to the plate on Monday night with a chance to collect his first big league hit in walk-off fashion.  Obviously you know the result; otherwise I doubt that I’d be writing this.

Bottom 2: Carl Crawford grounded into force out against Kyle Davies

Bottom 4: Crawford struck out swinging against Davies

Bottom 7: Crawford grounded out to second against Tim Collins

Bottom 9: Crawford struck out swinging against Aaron Crow

Bottom 11: Crawford stuck out swinging against Greg Holland

Bottom 14: Crawford struck out swinging against Joakim Soria

Final Line: 0-for-6, R, SB, 6 LOB

Notes: Like so many others, Crawford’s golden sombrero against the Royals on Monday night was made possible by extra innings. His final two strikeouts were extremely costly, as the one in the 11^th inning came with two outs and runners on first and second, and the one if the 14^th led off the Red Sox final at-bat.

Total 2011 Sombreros: 75

Justin Verlander revived a decades-old dugout tradition Sunday afternoon by giving teammate Don Kelly the ‘ol “hot foot.”

Perhaps Verlander just felt the need to bring Kelly down to earth after the career .236 hitter (.628 OPS) was spotlighted by the New York Times as the only active major leaguer to have played innings at each defensive position around the diamond.

The hot foot has been in pranksters’ repertoires since at least the 1980s. The Mets blog Hot Foot credits former Miracle Mets Roger McDowell and Howard Johnson with originating the trick.

Here’s an explanation of their technique in this clip from “1986: A Year to Remember.”